The other side of the coin - Re:Al Makhtoum

[tomasjj]

I'm certainly not underestimating their foresight, but they would be camel jockeys themselves if it wasn't for the oil.


How would they have built their man-made islands and sail shaped hotels?

They would be nomads wandering the desert.

How can you tell what they would have done IF they hadn't had the oil?
Answer is, you can't predict what path they would have taken.

Your comments are bordering on racism too.

[BobSkinstad]

Actually there isn't much oil in Dubai, it's all up the road in Abu Dhabi. It's always been a trading post. Now oil accounts for only 6% of GDP; the majority comes from tourism or the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

[DT_]

Welcome mate.

Thanks.

I'm wobbling at the moment, not knowing where this whole thing will leave me. Partly I feel like giving up the whole thing, but the other part says wait and see, it'll be the same and that I couldn't give it up even if I tried. That's probably true, but you know, I just don't have the same passion and the same pride at the moment.

Then I read stories in the papers from all kinds of people - former players, horse racing people etc - saying how wonderful this guy is and how good investment will be and how much it will benefit Liverpool, and for me it just doesn't seem to add up.

I should be excited, but I'm not.

[Robster007]

How can you tell what they would have done IF they hadn't had the oil?
Answer is, you can't predict what path they would have taken.

Your comments are bordering on racism too.

Tomasjj, I have always respected you as a poster. You come out with some very insightful comments. But.....

how DARE you tell me my comments are bordering on racism!!! What do you base that on? The phrase camel jockey? It's a huge sport in the Middle East. In fact, it was referred to recently in a broad-sheet newspaper.

I can tell what they would have done without the oil by looking at numerous other countries based in the region without that resource. I was recently in Mauritania which is the third poorest country in the world and a stones throw from Dubai. The poverty is astonishing.

Before you make off-the-cuff remarks like that again, please think first.

[Robster007]

Actually there isn't much oil in Dubai, it's all up the road in Abu Dhabi. It's always been a trading post. Now oil accounts for only 6% of GDP; the majority comes from tourism or the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

That may be the case now, but it hasn't always been so.

[tomasjj]

Tomasjj, I have always respected you as a poster. You come out with some very insightful comments. But.....

how DARE you tell me my comments are bordering on racism!!! What do you base that on? The phrase camel jockey? It's a huge sport in the Middle East. In fact, it was referred to recently in a broad-sheet newspaper.

I can tell what they would have done without the oil by looking at numerous other countries based in the region without that resource. I was recently in Mauritania which is the third poorest country in the world and a stones throw from Dubai. The poverty is astonishing.

Before you make off-the-cuff remarks like that again, please think first.

Well, I am sorry that you are offended, but I still feel the same after re-reading your initial post.

[Neil Young]

I was recently in Mauritania which is the third poorest country in the world and a stones throw from Dubai.

Wow, you must have one hell of a powerful arm.

[Robster007]

Well, I am sorry that you are offended, but I still feel the same after re-reading your initial post.

I'm upset you use the word "racist" without explaining what was racist in my post. That's a pretty big accusation to level without an explanation, and comments like that can get you in a lot of trouble.

So please, explain.

[Robster007]

Wow, you must have one hell of a powerful arm.

Ok, one side of Africa to the other.

[BobSkinstad]

Wow, you must have one hell of a powerful arm.

Quite, Mauritania is in West Africa. I don't understand the relevance to Dubai. Robster, can you explain please?

[Neil Young]

Ok, one side of Africa to the other.

I must admit, you made me check.

[IrishPaul]

I wonder what club she supports

I thought exactly the same thing when I read it aswell SAR

[Robster007]

Quite, Mauritania is in West Africa. I don't understand the relevance to Dubai. Robster, can you explain please?

They are both countries with the majority of their territory covered by desert. Both have oil reserves. One has had the ability to realise these resources, the other hasn't. In fact Oil and gas account for 30% of UAE's GDP. Mauritania have their first major oil works due to start soon, but had they had this for the last 30 years as has the UAE things may be very different.

[BobSkinstad]

They are both countries with the majority of their territory covered by desert. Both have oil reserves. One has had the ability to realise these resources, the other hasn't. In fact Oil and gas account for 30% of UAE's GDP. Mauritania have their first major oil works due to start soon, but had they had this for the last 30 years as has the UAE things may be very different.

As I said before, oil is not a main player in the Dubai economy anymore. It's all in Abu Dhabi. And it was discovered only recently in Mauritania as I understand it. Also, might not the political situation have something to do with it? I.e. Dubai being under the control of an enlightened (albeit authoritarian) regime which rules for the benefit of the populace but Mauritania enduring a history of instability and being ruled by a military junta?

[Shaggy]

Everybody keeps referring to Dubai as a country.......why?

It was always my understanding that Dubai was a state within the UAE?